THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503160187
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
IT WAS the general consensus of basketball fans in the Albemarle region that it would be a weak year for the local teams. Four teams, however, proved the critics wrong.
The Manteo boys and the Manteo, Perquimans County, and Camden County girls all made it to third round playoff games before finally bowing out.
The Manteo boys had several question marks to start the season - who would replace Brandon Capps at center and who would start at one of the forward spots. Sophomore Chris Sillis proved he belonged at center and Jason Summerton broke the lineup at forward. Although the Redskins had some bench strength, the starting lineup of Sillis, Summerton, L.C. Thrash, Darius Collins and Antonio Spencer literally carried the team in the playoffs.
Manteo ran into its vanquisher last year - Clinton - in the third round of the playoffs. Leonard Henry scored on a layup with 10 seconds to play to lift Clinton to a 64-61 win.
Manteo's Spencer had a chance to tie the game but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Redskins head coach Bud Hendrix used the same game plan he used against James Kenan in the second round - use the starters almost the entire game. The only players that scored for Manteo (19-9) were the starters. Collins led with 21 points and Summerton scored 16 points.
Manteo led at the half and after three quarters, but Clinton, ranked second in the state by the Associated Press, chipped away at the lead.
``We needed to make some defensive stops and we didn't,'' Hendrix said. ``We also missed some free throws with 50 seconds to play. We had every chance to win the ball game.''
The Manteo girls also reached the third round of the playoffs. After a first-round bye, the Lady Redskins pounded C.B. Aycock 60-40 in perhaps their best effort.
But Manteo fell apart in the third quarter of its third round game as Misty Mooring outscored the Lady Redskins in the third quarter to lead Northside to a 66-57 win.
Manteo led 31-28 at the half, but Mooring poured in 14 of her 30 points in the third quarter.
``She was everywhere,'' said Manteo head coach Bill Bohannon.
``We played an excellent first half,'' Bohannon added. ``If we'd have played better in the third quarter defensively, we'd have been right there.''
Heather Daniels, Manteo's leading scorer, was double-teamed all night but still turned in 12 points. Felicia Norman led the Lady Redskins' attack with 14 points and Kari Haywood added 13 points.
The Perquimans County girls were another surprise team. The Lady Pirates upset conference favorites Williamston and Camden County to win the Albemarle Conference Tournament.
The dream season for the Perquimans County girls team came to an end at the hands of Roanoke. The Lady Redskins took advantage of poor free-throw shooting to knock off the Lady Pirates 55-43 in the third round of the 1A state playoffs.
Camden County (21-6), which turned a 3-21 season last year into a strong playoff contender this year, also bowed in the third round of the 1A girls playoffs. The Lady Bruins were dumped by Williamston 64-54.
The Lady Tigers beat Camden in three out of four matchups. by CNB